Hey Bob, I kinda take offense, there. I bought a boat in a class where there is really good competition and some great people. I don't know your situation, but I frequently move my F18 around by myself - and I'm not a big guy.
Your point about the F16 class growing may be on target, and I can guarantee that if the racing is there someday, then I will be, too. Right now I have a gorgeous, extremely well-made boat that gets me class racing wherever I go. Just as you say, that is exactly what I want and deserve - but I don't say that with a sneer as you seem to. I've been abstaining from posting, but this thread has gotten absurd.
I poked around JW's boat at Perf Midwinters and it is clearly a very well made boat... very solid.
My point in posting this to start with is just what is behind the reasoning for modern boats to weigh so much. I did not intend to try to diminish any other boats or classes (although the gloves come off when someone starts throwing generalizations about the HT around).
My friend and I chose the HT because it was light and easy to deal with. He can sail with his kids and not have to worry too much about righting it, getting it into the water off the beach and out of the water onto the beach. It would have been nice if there were more boats in that "class" to race against. If the min weight in the F18 class were 75lbs lighter then I think it would have been a no brainer and then we would have a better time racing.
(someone will bring up the F16 issue, but there just aren't any reasonably priced used F16s around.. not many used F18s in my price range around either I guess).
In the end, if you have someone to help you move the baot around the lifting can be done and in truth I am sure it would be more fun racing against boats exaclty like mine than in open class where DPNs are taken into account and we know how goofy that can get. Obviously the F18 class is very popular but maybe could benefit from switching to diet coke.
